The NSW Nationals in Government have opened the Regional Event Fund as part of the $10 million Tourism Recovery package through two streams: the Flagship Event Fund and a new Micro Event Fund.

Leslie Williams, the Member for Port Macquarie, said local event organisers, associations, councils and community groups would benefit from the targeted events program throughout 2020.

“Local events are really important because they give people from outside our area the opportunity to visit, stay ‘locally’ and spend ‘locally’,” Mrs Williams said.

“On top of this, events stimulate our local economy through engaging local businesses such as food and beverage and infrastructure suppliers, tradespeople and staff, who all contribute to the delivery of a successful event.

“The regional event funding programs will give organisers a chance to put forward sporting, arts, cultural and lifestyle events that bring an economic and social boost to our area,” Mrs Williams said.

The two funding streams now open will offer:

• Flagship Event Fund – grants of $20,000 to support event marketing activities to attract visitors from outside their immediate regions and drive tourism.

• Micro Event Fund – one-off grants of $10,000 to community-based events in bushfire or drought-affected areas with total operating budgets of $75,000 or less that have the capacity to bring together local communities, attract visitation and stimulate local economies.

To be eligible events must be delivered between 1 May and 31 December 2020.

Events in bushfire-affected areas that will be held in March and April across Easter and the school holiday period may be eligible for Federal Government grants via Austrade. Event owners can seek guidance from Austrade,

Destination NSW, Destination Networks and local councils about relevant grant applications.

The NSW Nationals in Government’s $10 million Tourism Recovery package announced earlier this month encourages visitation across NSW through a social media-led marketing campaign – Now’s The Time To Love NSW - partnership campaigns and direct assistance to business to develop, promote and sell their tourism products. 

Applications are now open and close on Wednesday 25 March. Register at www . destinationnsw.com.au/tourism/business-development-resources/funding-and-grants/regional-event